I was surfing around and found this paraphrase. It was just what I needed at the end of a long day. I hope it blesses someone else out there in Cyberland!
I made her. She is different. She's unique. With love I formed her in her mother's womb. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember with great pleasure the day I created her. (Psalm 139:13-16)
I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh and the silly things she says and does. She brings me great pleasure. (Psalm 139:17)
I made her pretty and not beautiful, because I knew her heart and knew she would be vain. I wanted her to search out her heart and to learn it would be Me in her that would make her beautiful and would draw friends to her. (I Peter 3:3-5)
I made her in such a way that she would need Me. I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be, only because I want her to turn to Me in her loneliness. Only because I need for her to lean to and depend on Me. I know her heart. I know if I had not made her like this she would go her own way and forget about Me, her Creator. (Psalm 62:5-8)
I have given her many good and happy things because I love her. (Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32)
Because I love her, I have seen her broken heart and the tears she has cried alone. I have cried with her and had a broken heart too. (Psalm 56:8)
Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone, only because she would not hold My Hand. So many lessons she has learned the hard way, because she would not listen to My Voice. (Isaiah 53:6)
She is mine. I made her then I bought her because I love her. (Romans 5:8)
I have to reshape and remold her, to renew in her what I want her to be. It has not been easy for her or for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I want her to be conformed to My Image. This high goal I have set for her because I love her. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Believe it and be blessed!
27 December 2008
A Sweet Reminder
26 December 2008
Happy Christmas!
Caroline's Christmas Pageant
Merry Christmas! Perhaps a calendar day late, but I am as excited as I was yesterday morning. As a Christian my heart just busts open at the thought of Jesus Christ leaving Heaven, wrapping Himself in a suit of flesh, and the great "I AM" - omniscient, all powerful, perfect love - taking on a name just to reach the hearts of little ol' humanity. Choosing to be born in poverty to outcasts, visited by social misfits and the powerful alike, so as to leave no person out through the expanse of all time; to destroy the power of guilt, shame, death, religion, and replace everything false with lasting, uncircumstantial joy, peace, and truth through relationship with Him. As many of you know, when you get to know HIM life is so much better!
Whether you celebrate Christmas in faith or out of tradition, I hope it has been a great celebration of sheer joy for you! Certainly what you believe about Christ is between you and God. Whether you know Him as Savior and friend or just a historical figure, there is no denying His existence! Shoot, pretty soon it will be 2009 A.D.!!
"If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today... As for me and my family, we'll worship God." (Joshua 24:15)
Much love to you.
21 December 2008
To You; Love, K.
Not much time these days to catch you up on the activities around here. I'm hoping to pick up my Christmas cards before Christmas, and I won my mom's Ebay auction: $2 and change for a Barney shaped potato, from my mother. Ha! We really are having a ball around here; very busy! Just wanted to give you this before I hit the sack for the night: www.theinterviewwithgod.com. My gift to you--
With love,
K.
01 December 2008
Heads up everyone! My mom has listed the perfect Christmas gift for any toddler or food connoisseur out there. Check it out! LOL!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Barney-the-Dinosaur-Potato-Head_W0QQitemZ330290960718QQihZ014QQcategoryZ1469QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
27 November 2008
Must Thank or Will Bust!
She loved being on stage next to her dear buddy "Roo" of course!
They are like peas and carrots.
What would a Thanksgiving Feast be without a few feathers on your head?! 
While his big sis chowed down, J scoped the ladies while leisurely enjoying his animal crackers.
We celebrated at Mom's the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Here J was darting from Aunt Mimi's friend, showing him who's boss and all.
I am sure he was trying to race Chris to pumpkin pie and whipped cream,
or was it whipped cream and pumpkin pie?
Feeding Duncan.
"See Caroline. He likes carrots. You should too!"
(Child psychology...)
We had to make yet another hat with feathers. Maybe I have turkey envy?
OK, this is where Thanksgiving gets hard.
We always take a family photo before we destroy Mom's beautifully decorated table.
In the making however, there were mashed potatoes on the spread before us and a row of desserts behind us. Can you see it in our happy faces:
"Put a fork in it, and let's eat!"
Today was the day.We stayed in our Pj's all morning and watched the Macy's Day parade, while sweet Daddy watched the brush all morning for a gobbler with Grandpa and froze his 'tookus' off as is the family tradition.
I think if I happen to wake up at 4 a.m. I will buy my darling a pair.
Then off to the Fields' Thanksgiving where sadly the turkey came from Kroger yet again.Caroline did manage to capture a few hugs from this tender bird though!
Most of the evening was spent on the floor having so much fun!
Caroline had her chocolate milk in a special, very fancy, very big-girl glass which made her night!
And to conclude the mad dash through our Thanksgiving festivities, the cousins crossed the finish line with big bellies and happy hearts!Grateful-
K.
21 November 2008
Love, Your Daughter...
Today is my dad's 63rd birthday! Hard to imagine my dad with gray hair and an older man's pot belly. When my dad passed away unexpectedly 11 years ago I remember in the midst of shock and deep grief how sure and certain I was to have been blessed to be his daughter. I knew even then that I would have rather had a shorter amount of time with him than a longer amount with an average father. He was such an adventurer: pilot, avid sailor, hiker, camper, he would spend entire days bicycling around the D.C. area, always exploring or tinkering. Growing up with him had no shortage of trying new things that enriched us all. What a gift to have had a father who did not feel limited in life, although he faced major health issues from his 20s onward. He was a humble, honest person known for his integrity. His quick laugh was often coupled with a crooked smile that I'm certain endeared him to all of his childhood teachers. My dad was the kind of father who took a day off of work, travelled hours, and helped clean the house my college roommates left me with at the end of a lease. The smell of a pipe, trumpet solos, peanuts, and all of the D.C. sports teams remind me of him. He was a California boy who grew up playing cowboys and grew into an investigator protecting the innocent for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. As a Naval officer he settled on the east coast, but could never quench his thirst for "real" mountains and lakes. He had a gifted intellect and loved long conversations especially good debates. I remember when he passed wondering, "Now who's going to keep me informed?" My dad really challenged me in my thinking and understanding of my beliefs. He was a natural philosopher and seeker, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure exactly what he believed. However, our discussions are still a gift encouraging me to mature in my faith with not just my heart but also my head. I am thankful that the spiritual truth of a loving Creator or heavenly Father is not an unreasonable thought because of my dad's devotion and love for his girls. Now over a decade later I no longer feel my "loss echo inside of myself" which I shared at his memorial service. I can see clearly the amazing man he was and God's fingerprints all over our lives. He would have been such a fun granddad, but I know his legacy will stir the imaginations of our children in a special way. Certainly to honor my dad and thank the Lord for him on his birthday is a privilege I treasure.
"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." 2 Cor. 1:3
16 November 2008
Compulsive Catch-Up
Erin and Kenny came to visit! They moved to San Diego close to 5 years ago, and can't you tell?! Look at those boots, my friends! No one is near hip enough to get away with those in our little town! Erin, Kim, and I taught together at Central and became fast friends. These two are precious to me! We were having so much fun catching up that I could have camped out for a week.
Our nephew visited on the 18th. I especially love to watch these kiddos play together! It's so fun knowing they will be friends for life. (Tidbit about moi: I didn't have a single cousin until I was 12!)
Mom had an amazing bon fire on the 18th to celebrate the season. Her boyfriend Jimmy brought his crew, so we got to meet "the family" for the first time which went really well. We were also able to hang out with Laurie, a dear family friend, who is nothing but fun. So in short lots of food, good music, goofing around, and again lots of marshmallows!
On the 22nd we went to a local jogging trail and picnicked with Grammy. What a great way to spend the afternoon!
Caroline and Jackson climbed a tree while there. Is this a no-no? Kind of like swimming after eating; you're supposed to wait a half hour or something? =Just kidding.=
This is one of my artsy shots from the trail. I could not stop taking photos of the foliage this year. It was gorgeous! (Unfortunately, the geese that usually banquet here were already on vacation the day we visited.)
And yes my friends, this is yours truly "jogging" on the trail.
And this is my little miss helping her momma finish the course.
FUBC had their annual Fall Festival which is always so much fun. We have an amazing puppet ministry that C absolutely loves. It's all about Joey the Puppet! One of the best parts of this afternoon was the cake walk. Little Miss walked away with a plate full of chocolate Rice Krispy treats. It was neat to watch elderly people using walkers along side daddies holding little people learning to walk all gallivanting around the cake walk. Nothing like sugar to unite the generations!
Oh my, and there was this afternoon...
I was chatting on the phone and wondered why J was suspiciously quiet. I walked into his room and this is what I found! As if an alien had politely set him up for a portrait. Little Dude was quite content and very proud of himself, although check out his look: "Busted.
FYI when you marry a southern boy breakfast is no longer about eggs Benedict and French toast. It becomes all about the biscuit. A good morning (some may even argue any good "meal") will have biscuits, but a great morning of course includes the gravy. So true is this tidbit that my sweet hubby made himself this delicacy one morning before work! (Was he gearing up for a good or bad day, I don't know.) That morning I figured I could no longer keep my children from certain evils in the world so I inducted them into the life of being biscuits & gravy connoisseurs.
Below reflects C's point of view on the tasty vitals.
The next photo says a 1000 words. Looks like there is a biscuit and gravy gene! J even went so far as to dip the biscuit in the gray matter, not to eat it but instead to lick the gravy off of his fingers.
And the grand finale of October...
My very own Raggedy Ann and Andy!
